December 8 Houston Rockets at LA Clippers prediction and odds

On December 9, 2024By Littum

The Rockets (-2.5) defeated James Harden and the Clippers twice last month, but will be without Tari Eason in Sunday’s rematch from Los Angeles.

The Houston Rockets defeated Los Angeles Clippers twice in November, but both of those meetings came within their friendly home confines at the Toyota Center.

Now, in Sunday’s rematch, the Rockets (15-8) will look to take that success on the road — where they haven’t had much success in recent days.

After an upset loss Thursday against short-handed Golden State, the Rockets have now lost back-to-back games for the first time in the NBA’s 2024-25 regular season. Sunday’s game ends a three-game California swing, and Houston needs a win to avoid a winless road trip.

Both sides should be fairly rested and motivated as the Clippers (14-10) haven’t played since Wednesday and coming off a loss at home in that competition. The Rockets haven’t had a game since Thursday’s poor showing, which was their 15th straight loss to the Warriors (dating back to the start of the 2020-21 season).

Expected lineups

Rockets at Clippers Betting Odds:

All NBA odds via BetMGM:

Point Spread: Rockets -2.5
Money line: Rockets -145 / Clippers +120
Over-under: 214.5

Rockets at Clippers Injury Updates:

Rockets: Tari Eason, out, concussion protocol
Rockets: Fred VanVleet, questionable, right knee contusion
Clippers: Kawhi Leonard, out, right knee injury recovered
Clippers: Terance Mann, out, left middle finger fracture
Clippers: Kobe Brown, out, back injury management
Clippers: PJ Tucker, out, not with team
Clippers: James Harden, questionable, right groin soreness
Clippers: Kris Dunn, questionable, illness
Clippers: Mo Bamba, questionable, recovering from left knee injury

For Houston, Nate Williams, Cam Whitmore and N’Faly Dante are healthy but unavailable while they spend time with the club’s G League affiliate.

Rockets Prediction and Picks at Clippers:

Clippers star James Harden (listed as questionable) ranks fifth in the NBA with an average of 8.5 assists per game this season. Still, in the two previous games against Houston, he averaged just 4.5 assists — his second-lowest total against any team this season. Tough perimeter defense from the likes of Dillon Brooks, Amen Thompson and Tari Eason made it harder for Harden to draw double teams and create good looks for Los Angeles shooters.

As Harden struggled to get going as a playmaker, the Clippers averaged 103.5 points per game in those two meetings in Houston — more than five below their season-long average (108.8). For the 2024-25 season, the Rockets still hold The NBA’s second-ranked defense.

The rematch in Los Angeles will be a little tougher as Eason is out with an injury. But if Brooks and Thompson can stay out of foul trouble, it still looks like a favorable matchup for the Rockets, who should be encouraged to put their recent losing streak behind them.

Should Harden sit out, it should be even more favorable. Both previous matchups also exceeded the current over-under total.

Best bet: Rockets -2.5 (-115)

Favorite prop: James Harden, under 8.5 assists (-150)

Prediction: 111-107, Rockets